Roller cleaning and oiling device for driers



Feb. 10, 1931. c. w..L1NFEsTY 1,791,723

ROLLER CLEAN-ING AND OILING` DVICE FOR DRI'ERS Filed OGL 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROLLER CLEANING AND OILING llJEVICE FOR DRIERS Filed'oct. 15, 192e z sheets-sheet 2 aan one

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Q 39 11 12 13 i10 /jg Zi 24 46 I 5a 33 5 c 29 2f 64 zz 22 43 27 36 3743 72K 25 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT 'FFICE CHARLES W. LINFESTY, OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO lSIEEBLER PARKER CO., OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA ROLLER CLEANING AND OILING DEVICE FOR DRIERS Y Application filed October 1,5, 1928. Serial No. 312,674.

rality of rollers connected by a flexible coupling such as a chain associated with each end of the rollers. One of the inherent disadvantages of this type of fruit drier, results from the fact that a residue collects upon the rollers, this residue being formed of oils from the fruit, dust, and other substances such as the various chemicals with which citrus fruits are treated while in preparation for packing. Consequently, it is necessary more or less frequently, to shut downthe machine to permit removal of this collected deposit. The general object of my invention is the provision of improved means for facilitating the operation of cleaning the rollers of fruit driers of the general character described.

Another object is the provision of means for applying a coating of oil to the rollers after they have been cleansed.

With these objects in view, the device of the present invention constitutes an 'improvement over that of my copending application,

VSerial No. 270,999, filed April 18, 1928.

One of my objects is the provision of means for moving the cleansing and oiling devices, at will into or out of engagement with the conveyer, these moving means being simpler and capable of being more easily operated than the corresponding means of my copending application above mentioned.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will Vbe set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of the roller conveyer of a citrus fruit drier, with cleansing and oiling devices embodying produced.

myv invention, in operative position in respect thereto.

Fig. 2` is av compound, horizontal sectional view, the planes of section being indicated by the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the direction of view indicated bythe arrows. Portions of the structure upon which the cleansing and oiling brushes are mounted, are broken away to better disclose the nature of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and the direction of View as indicated.V v

ig.A 4 is a transverse,"vertical sectional view takenupon the line 4:44: of Fig. 1,'with the direction of View as indicated.

VThe present invention comprises a rotary brush for cleansing a conveyer, and a fiat brush for applying oil to the conveyer, and screw-operated means for moving the brushes optionally into or out of engagement with the conveyer.

Describing in greaterv detail a specific embodiment of my invention, thecleansing and oiling apparatus is shown mounted on a conventional citrus fruit drier which comprises a` rigid supporting structure 10 which carries an endless belt 11 made up of a plurality of rollers 12 interconnected by chains 13 or their equivalent. The arrows llvof Figs. 1 and 3, indicate the direction of travel'of the belt 11 as it transports citrus fruits or other cummodities through the drier while they are being subjected to heat or other desired treatment.

One of the principal difliculties encoun-` tered in the drying of citrus fruits, results from the fact that after the fruit is subjected to heat, oils issue from the fruit and collect upon the rollers in the form of a gummy substance whichtends to seriously iliamper the satisfactory operation oftheV conveyer. Hence, it becomes necessary frequently, to shut down `the entire machine and remove'this collected oil. It is to facilitate this cleansing process andl to applyva protective coating of oil or other substance,`that the device of the present invention has been The cleansing apparatus comprises a ici Y frame 21 extending transversely of the conveyer 1l, and preferably between the upper and lower runs thereof. The frame 21 is provided at each end with a bracket 22 rigid therewith, these brackets having vertically disposed threaded aertures therethrough for the threaded engagementof screw shafts 23. rfhe shafts 23 are journalled in brackets 2 4 rigidlwithgthe supporting structure 10, as best shown ljupon *Fig 1. n l Y I In practicing' the invention, I provide brushing means mounted near the conveyor and capable of being'brought at will into active operation. 2 l y Preferably a Vplurality of bearings 26 are carried by the fra'1r`1e'21atY eac'h end-t-hereof, arranged in aligned pairs* for the mounting of rotary brushes'27 therein. VV'hile any desired numberof brushes 27 maybe employed, the ,invention is -herein' described -as being provided with three. The shaftA 28`of1 the center brush 27is provided with sprockets Y29 upon eachv end, land a1 pair of sprockets 31 arealsofprovided adjacent oneend of the shaft 28 upon, which one of the outer Vbrushes is mounted. VThe shaft 28 of the other outer brushV 'carries a single" sprocket '32"whic'h is connected by a driving chain33 to one ofthe sprockets 29v of the `center Shaft 28. 'T he other sprocket 29 is connected by -a Adriving chain' 34 to the sprocket31-upon'the Isame side of the conveyer, with the result that the other sprocket'31 is left free for the' reception of driving means 'to be described 'hereinafter. Y Y Y A hood 36 is carried by the frame'21 'over the brushes 27, this hood being provided Vwith a foraminated pipe 37 connectedby--a-flexible conduit 38 and through a suitable supply valve 39 to a reservoir 41 for either clear or soapy water`42 or' any other desired cleansing solution. A second foraminated pipe 43 may also be provided within 'the hood 36 t0 permit the spraying of water under pressure fromany desired source of supply. Means are provided for 'rotating' simultaneously, the shaft 23 associated with opposite 'sides of the frame 21. It is to be understood that the shafts 23 are journalled within the brackets 24 for rotary movement only, and are provided with thrust Ycollars 46 `preventing longitudinal displacement thereof. Eachof the shafts 23 has a sprocket 47 rigid ytherewith preferably below the; plane of the lower run of the.conveyer 11. Ainl endless chain 48 is mounted upon these sprockets in such a manner that both shafts 23l maybe rotated simultaneously at the same 4speed and inthe same direction. fAcrank`49 is provided upon the lower end of one o f the' shafts 23 to effect this rotation of'both shafts 23 withthe consequent lowering or raising of the frame' 21, depending upon theldi-rection'of rotation of the crank 49.

Means are provided for driving the rotary brushes Y27. Power may be derived from any suitable power shaft such as the shaft 51 journalled in suitable boxes 52 carried by the supporting structure 10. A. gear 53 is mounted for rotation upon the shaft 51 and carries one -1 element 54 of a clutch, the other element 56 Vgear'53 carriesa'sleeve '59 rotatable but held against longitudinal displacement in respect thereto. A pin 61 rigid with the sleeve 59,

extends, through a slot 62 in the handle A57 so that sliding 'of the gear 53 upon the shaft 5l may be etl'ected vby swinging the handle 57. lhen the gear 53 is slid to the right when viewed as inFig. 1, the clutch members 54 and 56 are brought in'to engaging position. This samemovement brings the gear`53 'into mesh l with -ar-gear 63 rigid with a counter'- shaft 64 Y journalle'd in boxes 66 upon the structure 10. rThisv countershaft 64 also carries a'beveled gear' 67 enineshed with a complementary beveled gear 68 'carried by a tram'- versely extending s'haft- 69. This shaft is journalled in vsuitable boxes 71and carries at oneend sprocketv 72. W hen the: framel 21 is lowered to that y position in which the brushes 27f engage the rollers of thelo'wer run of they c'onveyer 11,y a chain 73-may be engaged upon; the sprocket 72fa'nd thegother sprocket 31. It would be entirelywithin the eld of my invention to-employ some flexible drive means, obviating the necessity ofV remo-ving the chain 73 when the frame 21gis elevated'out of-rollereengaging position. v However, occasion-,arises onlyat relatively infrequent intervals for the employment of the cleansing device,andtherefore-themanner of driving the brushes 27 above disclosed, is considered the preferredformfbecause 'of its 'simplicity and relatively lower cost.

Aflat brush -7 6 is also provided-preferably locatedfadjacent theframe 2l. The bristles 77 Vof the brush 7 6A are. mounted in al back 78 having a plurality' of -foraminations 79 `therein leading to a reservoir 81- closed by'a removableftop82. vThis reservoir'81 is connected'bya suitable Vflexible conduit 83 and supply valve 84,- toua reservoir 86, forthe reception of oil 87. VThe br-u'sh 7 6 is;mounted similarlyjto the frame 21,'bein provided with tlrreaded brackets l88 -within which screw shafts89 are engaged, these screw lshafts being'similarlymountedin brackets 91- and provi'de'd withY sprockets' 92 connectedby anendlesschainA 93. Qne of the lshafts 89 isf also provided with an operating 'crank 94.

The manner ofy operating the cleansing and oiling dev-ice 'ofmy invention 1 is believed to be apparent from the above ydescriptionof their 'constituei'it parts. vThe brush-es 27 may be loweredy into engagement with the rollers` 12 by turning the crank 49 in the proper direction.

56, should be closed for effecting rotation of allV of the brushes 27. Soapy Water or .other suitable cleansing solution may then be supplied to the brushes 27 by opening the valve 39. The preferable arrangement is to have the foraminated pipe 37 adjacent that brush 27 with which the rollers 12 first come in contact as they move past the scrubbing device. This will result in the thorough saturation of the deposit upon the rollers, with the cleansing fluid; and then as the rollers pass the other brushes 27 which are relatively dry, they will be subjected to a thorough scrubbing action. After this scrubbing has been carried out as long as desired, the valve 39 should be closed and then clear water supplied through the foraminated pipe 43 to rinse the rollers. It should be observed that a drippan 96, having a drain pipe 97, is positioned below that portion of the conveyer 11 with which the cleansing and oiling devices come in contact. Therefore, the first cleansing solution and rinse water, as well as the deposit removed from the rollers, collects in the drip-pan 96 and maybe withorawn through the outlet 97.

The next step is to stop the rotary brushes 27 by opening the clutch-54, 56, and then raising the frame 21 by rotating` the handle 49 in the opposite direction. As clearly shown upon Fig. 3, the shaft 69 is higher than the shafts 28 upon which the brushes 29 are mounted, when the frame 21 is in operating position. This permits raising of the frame 21 a distance sufficient for the passage of fruit below the brushes 27 in the normal operation of the conveyer, without tlienecessity of Vremoving the chain 73 from the sprockets 72 and 3l. However, it should be observed that if it is desired to raise the frame 21 higher than the position thereof which can be attained Without removal of the chain 73, this chain may easily be removed, permitting movement of the frame 21 to any desired position within the limits of the screw 23.

The oiling device should then be loweredby its operating crank 94, so that the bristles 77 contact the rollers 12 vas they move past the brush 7 6. These bristles 77 being saturated with oil from the reservoir 71, apply a protective coating of oil to the rollers, serving to preserve them against rust. After the rollers have Vbeen thoroughly oiled, the crank 94 should be rotated in the reverse direction to withdraw the brush 76 from engagement with the conveyer, and permit subsequent operation thereof.

Itis to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subjectto Then, the chain 73 should be e n gagedupon the drive sprockets 72 and theV driven sprocket 81, after which the clutch 54,:

alteration within the spirit or -scope of the appended claims.

I- claim:

1.InV a fruit Vv.drier including an endless conveyerwitli an upper run and a lower run, a brush mounted between the runs of said conveyer, and screw-operated means for nor- Vmally holding the brush away from the conveyer, and for moving the brush at will into engagement with said conveyer.V`

into or out of engagement with the rollers,

and a chain connecting the screw'shafts for moving the same' 1n unison.

4. In a fruit drier including a rigid structure and aroller conveyer carried. by said" structure for movement thereupon; a frame.- extending transversely of said conveyer, a r0- tary brush journalled upon said frame, means for rotating said-brush, abracket rigid with each end of said frame and having ay threaded aperture therethrough, a screw 'shaftthreadedly engaged within each` of -said brackets and j ournalled upon said rigidstructure to eXtendtra/nsversely to the plane ,of said conveyer, and means whereby said shafts maybe rotated to move said brush at will into or out of engagement with said conveyer.

5. yIn a. fruit drier including a rigid structure and a. roller conveyer carried by said structure yfor movement thereupon; a frame extending-transversely of said conveyer, a rotary brush ournalledupon said frame, manually-controlled means for rotating said brush, a bracket rigid with each end of said frame and having a threaded aperture therethrough, a screw shaft threadedly engaged within each of said brackets and journalled upon said rigid structure perpendicula-rly to the plane of said conveyer,-and meansfor rol tating said shafts toniovesaidbrush at will into or out of engagement with said conveyer.

- 6.- In a' fruit drier including a rigid structure-and a roller conveyer Vcarried by said structure for movement thereupon; a frame Vextending transversely of saidgconveyer, a

Y 75 2. In. a fruit drier including a conveyerV rotary brush kjournalled VuponV said frame,VV

inea-nsl for rotating saidlbruslna bracket rigidl with eachend of said vframe and having a threaded aperturetherethrough,- a screw shaft threadedly engaged -withirreach of said,v

bracketsland'jonrnalled uponl said rigid struc,- ture perpendicularly to the pl-aneof said :conveyer, a crank secured to one of said shaifts,.a sprocket rigid with eaclr of saidsshafts and a dri-vingchain connecting said sprockets..

7. In a-Yfruit drier including an endless conveyer having an upper run and aV lower run, and comprising a plurality of rollers, VaV

rotary brush located above the lower yrun of Veyor, andy for moving the brushing means-at. will into operative engagement wit-h the con- Veyor.l

Yln testimony whereof Ihave signed my. name to this specification.

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said conveyer, means for rotating said brush,

a second brush arranged adjacent saidconveyer, bracketsassociatediwith said brushes;

and having threaded apertures therethrough,

screw shafts located respectively at oppositev endsof the brushes engaged within said aperf tures, normally holding the-brushes out of contact Ywith-therollers, andmeans for rotating said screw shafts to movesaid brushes at willv into or out of engagement withl the rollers as they move past the same.

8.111. a fruit-drierincluding afconveyercomprising a plurality of rollers and a rigid structure support-ingsaidY conveyer; a flat brush disposed above said conveyer, a bracket upon each-end of said fl'atvbrush and having a threaded aperture therethrough, agscrew shaftA threadedly engaged within each of said brackets and journalled upon said rigid structure, a sprocket rigid with each shaft, a chai-n engaged upon both sprockets, and a'crank.

rigid with one of the shafts, said shafts being disposed perpendicularly to the plane of said conveyer.

9; In a fruitv d rierincluding aconveyerY comprising a plurality of rollers anda rigid structure' supportingsaid conveyer; aflat brush disposed above said conveyer, a bracket c upon each end of said flat brush and having a threadedl aperture therethrough, a screw provided with foraminations therethrough leading from the-reservoir to thebristles, and means for supplying oilto said reservoir.

10.Y In a fruit drier including an .endless conveyor with an upper run` and a lowenrun,

brushing means including: a rotary -brushi loca-ted between the runs of said conveyor, and screw-operated means for normally holding thelhrushing means outofcontact with the.-

conveyor and for moving the brushing'means at will into operative engagement with'lsaid COIlVeyOl.

1l. In a fruit drier including an endless conveyor with an-upper run and alower run, Y Vbrushing means .including a brush mounted Y between the runs of said conveyor, and means fornormally.holdingthe brushingdv means out of operative engagement .with the said "consof 

